Lewisham Prisoner: Seven Counties Added to London Search

The Metropolitan Police added seven counties to a manhunt for a prisoner who disappeared from a medical facility in London’s southeast on Friday. The search now spans Greater London and extends into Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Merseyside.

Anthony Lloyd, 38, forced his way out of a health unit in Lewisham shortly after 4:00 p.m. on Friday. A police statement issued on Saturday noted that he was last seen around 4:10 p.m., heading toward Catford. Officers believe he could be anywhere in the capital.

Lloyd is white, stands about 5 feet 8 inches tall, and has a medium build with short dark hair. When he left the facility, he was wearing a grey-blue T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms, and white trainers. He was convicted in 2025 of causing actual bodily harm in an incident in Nottinghamshire involving three emergency services workers. He received a 12-month custodial sentence and was transferred to the Lewisham medical unit in September.

Detective Superintendent Melanie Pressley is leading the search. She described Lloyd as a risk to both himself and the public. “We are concerned he poses a risk both to himself and the public, and would urge anyone who sees him to call 999 immediately. Do not approach him,” Pressley said.

The force has asked the public to call 999 if they spot Lloyd and to quote reference number CAD4739/23Oct. Pressley appealed for any information, however small, to be reported urgently to help locate the missing inmate and return him to custody. Officers are conducting various inquiries to narrow the search area.

The expansion of the search to seven counties reflects police links to those regions. Lloyd’s conviction stemmed from a 2025 incident in Nottinghamshire. His transfer to the Lewisham facility occurred in September of this year. The Metropolitan Police continue to coordinate the effort across the extended geographic area.